Portable feeding stations for cattle



Feb. 2, 1965 L. E. COLLINS 3,

PORTABLE FEEDING STATIONS FOR CATTLE Filed Feb. 12, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG! Ll OYD E. COLLiNS INVENTOR.

Feb. 2, 1965 E. COLLINS PORTABLE FEEDING STATIONS FOR CATTLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb 12, 1963 FIG.5

LIOYD E. COLLINS INVENTOR.

AT'TY FIG. 4

United States Patent Ofifi ce 3,168,071 Patented Feb. 2, 1965 3,168,071 PORTABLE FEEDING STATIONS FOR CATTLE Lloyd E. Collins, P.O. Box 601, Phoenix, Oreg. Filed Feb. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 257,905 2 Claims. (Cl. 119-53) This invention relates to improvements in structures especially adapted for use as feeding stations for farm animals, and the like, and which may be conveniently moved to various desired locations.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a feeding station of the character described which is of simple, efficient, durable and inexpensive construction comprising a plurality of feeding stalls along both of its sides made of identical parts to thereby reduce production costs.

A further object is the provision of an opening throughout the length of the roof of the structure and a divider along the flooring thereof coextensive in length with the roof opening for convenient equal distribution of incoming feed lengthwise of the interior of the structure and equally to the feeding stalls along both sides thereof.

A still further object is the arrangement of the inside walls of the structure in downwardly divergent relationship to each other to prevent the feed from clinging thereto or stacking thereagainst.

The feed herein referred to, without prescribing any limits of utility of the invention, is preferably comminuted and ordinarily comprises alfalfa finely chopped, shredded or in pellet form, and/or grain whole or ground, minerals, salts and other desirable ingredients, all in a dry state and capable of being blown into the feeding station if desired.

A still further object is to construct the dispensing openings or outlets to the feeding stalls in such a manner that any nails or other metallic fastening elements that are utilized are permanently secured against loosening or removal and hence mixing with the feed.

A still further object is the provision of skids or parallel runners extending throughout the length of the structure for convenient portability and a novel combination of tierods interconnecting the runners, and tubular elements carried by the tie-rods, and hook members between adjacent sections of the tubing held in proper position by compressive forces against the tubing elements and the hooks therebetween by advancement of nuts on both ends of the tie-rods.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an animal feeding station made in accordance with my invention and with fragments broken away for convenience of illustration.

FIGURE 2 is a typical and elevational view of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional end elevational view on an enlarged scale taken approximately along the line 3-3 of FIGUREl.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary detail view on an enlarged scale of typical hook means for attaching the station to a draft appliance.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional detail view on an enlarged scale taken approximately along the line 55 of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURES 6 and 7 are sectional top plan views taken respectively along the lines 6-6 and 77 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a typical feeding stall provided with a modified form of closure gate, and

FIGURE 9 is a sectional end elevational view taken approximately along the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8.

With continuing reference to the drawings wherein like references of character designate like parts, reference numeral 1 indicates generally the base or flooring of the feeding station provided with front and rear walls 2 and 3 and end walls 4 and 5. The base 1 is securely mounted upon two skids 6 and 7 somewhat in the form of sled runners interconnected in parallel spaced relation by rods 8 and nuts 9 (see also FIG. 4). Tubular or pipe sections 12, 13 and 14 are carried by the rods 8 between the skids 6 and 7. Hook members 15 and 16 also carried by the rod 8 are interposed respectively between the pipe sections 12-13 and 13-14 as shown in FIGURE 3. To protect the inside surface of the skids 6 and 7 which are made, though not restrictively, of wood, against the cutting action of adjacent pipe sections under compression loads I provide washers 18 and 19 interposed respectively between the pipe section 12, skid 6, and pipe section 14 and skid 7. To provide similar protection to the outside surface of the skids 6 and 7, I provide washers 21 and 22 between the nuts 9 and their respective sides of the skids.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the compressive forces of the nuts 9 on their threaded ends of the shaft 8 and transmitted through the pipe sections 12, 13, 14, and hooks 15 and 16 interposed therebetween, will maintain the hooks in any desired position relative to each other and to the ground and preferably in the position shown in FIGURE 5 for convenient attachment to or detachment from chains or cables (not shown) connected to a draft appliance.

Each of the front and rear walls 2 and 3 is made up of plywood panels secured between uniformly spaced apart stud partitions 25 and 26 respectively which provide individual feeding stalls indicated generally at 27 and 2.8 respectively along both sides of the feeding station.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 3, the walls 2 and 3 diverge downwardly relative to each other as indicated by broken lines D for a purpose to be more fully hereinafter pointed out. These broken lines D representing the inside edges or surfaces of the vertical stud partitions 25- 26 are, of course, parallel to the outside edges thereof and clearly illustrate such Wall divergence which can also be verified by actual measurement across the spacing between the top edges of the front and rear walls where they are secured to the tie beams 32 and across the spacing between their bottom edges which, as shown, are inset from the inside edges D of the stud partitions.

The top ends of the stud partitions 25 and 26 are secured in said spaced relation to each other by wall plates 30 and 31, and by any desired number of the tie beams 32 undercut as at 33 at both of their ends and thereat secured to the wall plates 30 and 31. The bottom ends of the stud partitions 25-26 are secured to the deck or bottom Wall 1, and to vertical partition wall members 35 which serve as dividers for the feeding stalls 27 and 28.

Roof sections and 41 are secured to roof rafters 42 and 43 (FIG. 3) supported respectively upon roof trusses 45-46 and 4748 and also secured as at 49 to the tie-beams 32 as shown.

A filler opening 50 extends throughout the length of the roof between the sections 4041 thereof and is defined by two longitudinal ridge pieces 51-52 and end pieces 53. An inverted box-like closure for the filler opening comprises two longitudinal side members 5455, and end cross members 56 supporting a cover plate 57.

Since this closure for the filler opening is not secured to the roof structure, it may be removed in its entirety for supplying feed to the interior of the station throughout the length thereof either by hand-loading; or, as illus- 3 trated in FIGURE 1, the closure may be lifted from either end of the station and slid lengthwise of the filler opening for similar loading or to selectively supply feed to the interior of either end of the station by a power driven blower system, not shown. If the latter method is used, the incoming air-blown feed will be confined to downward passage through the filler opening by impingement against the inside of the ridge pieces 51-52, the end piece 53 and the underside of the cover plate 57.

The roof truss members 45 and 48 are reinforced at their bottom ends by diagonal braces 65 secured to the bottom ends of the truss members and to the stud partitions 25 and 26.

The front, rear, and side edges of the flooring 1 are provided respectively with vertical retaining walls 60-61, 62 and 63, and the outer ends of the partition wall members 35 are secured to the front and rear retaining walls 60-61. Thus the stud partitions 25 and 26, provide upwardly continuing dividers between the feeding stalls 27 and 28, throughout the length of both sides of the station.

The bottom edge of each front and rear wall is elevated from the flooring 1 as indicated at 72 to provide dispensing openings 73. Each stall, or rather each dispensing opening is provided with a gate 74, and since all of the gates and their related parts are identical, a description of one will sufiice for all.

As best illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3, each gate 74 is in the form of a fiat panel provided along its top outside edge with a strip or over-hanging portion 76 to provide a convenient hand grip. Each gate is slidable upwardly and downwardly, relative to its respective dispensing opening within a space 78 between the outside surface of its respective station wall 2 or 3 and the top portion 79 of post members 81 shouldered as at 82 on the same horizontal plane as the elevated bottom edges 72 of the front and rear walls 2 and 3 of the station.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 3, when the gate 74 on the left side thereof is closed, its over-hanging top edge or hand grip 76 rests upon or lies closely adjacent .the shoulders 82 of its respective posts 81, and when the gate is in an open position as shown on the right of FIGURE 3, it is so held by its bottom edge engaged with and resting upon the shoulder 82 of its respective posts 81 with the panel tilted inwardly against the station wall 3 to prevent accidental or unintentional closing of the gate.

In the modified form of feeding stall 27A shown in FIGURE 8, I dispense with the shouldered posts 81 of FIGURE 3 and instead provide straight, parallel-sided posts 90 spaced outwardly from the station walls 2 or 3 a sufiicient distance to allow free upward and downward movement of the gate 74A and its movement into a tilted position as shown in FIGURE 9 for binding engagement with the station wall and the adjacent sideof the post 90 by a wedge 92 attached by means of a chain or flexible cable 93 to one of the posts 90 as at 95. By this arrangement, when the door is released by removal of the wedge 92, the gate will gravitate to a closed position and the wedge will be suspended well above the top 96 of the dispensing openingto prevent the wedge from becoming mixed into the feed. Each gate 74A is provided with a hand grip in the form of a block of wood,-or the like, indicated at 97. Both forms of hand grips 76 and 97 are secured to the front of their respective gates 74 and 97 by nails driven through the gatesfrom the rear thereof and into the hand grips. Protruding ends of the nails are then hammered over at a right angle against and into the gate to prevent loosening or accidental or unintentional removal and hence mixing with the feed. It is to be understood, of course, that any other type of non-removable fastening elements, such as bolts and nuts with lock-washers or lock-nuts could be substituted for the nails if desired.

through the filler opening 50 and for equally distributing it along both sides of the station as aforesaid, I provide a divider indicated generally at 98 (FIG. 3) comprising any desired number of longitudinally spaced apart A frames 99 secured to the flooring at their bottom ends and interconnected at their top ends. The A frames are covered with any suitable type of smooth material, such as plywood, or the like, 100 whose apex or ridge along the top of the A frames is covered with a ridge pole or the like indicated at 101. The ridge pole may be of round section, as shown or half-round,-so that in either case the over-hanging sides of the pole will insure divisional breaking up of the feed for even gravitation'downwardly over the diverging coverings 100 of the A frames. From 'the foregoing it will be readily apparent that I have provided a" feeding station which is .of compact, rigid construction utilizing a minimum number, of identical parts'to reduce production costs, and. one which can be conveniently transported from one place to another without undue stresses upon its structural components and one in which the feed content of the station is evenly distributed throughout the length and along both sides of the interior thereof. Each feeding stall is readily accessible to animals and any danger of nails or other fastening elements becoming mixed in with the feed is eliminated.

While I have shown particular forms of embodiment of my invention, I am aware that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to other skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A portable feeding stationfor cattle comprising,

a base having a front edge and a rear edge,

a vertically disposed retaining wall secured to said front and rear edges of the base throughout the length thereof,

a housing mounted upon the base and having front,

rear, and end walls,

said front and rear housing walls spaced inwardly from said front and rear retaining walls and converging upwardly relative to said base whereby to prevent feed, when being loaded into the housing, from clinging to said front and rear walls or stacking thereagainst,

stud partitions spaced apart throughout the length of said base and supporting said front and rear Walls, transverse disposed partition wall members interconnecting said stud partitions and said vertical retaining walls, whereby to divide the housing into feeding stalls throughout the length thereof,

said front and rear housing walls having dispensing openings therein intercommunicating its interior of said housing with said feeding stalls,

vertical post members adjacent thesides of said dispensing openings and extending upwardly from the top edge thereof in spaced relation to said front and rear walls, a

each post having a shoulder on the same horizontal plane as the top edge of the dispensing openings,

a gate for each dispensing opening vertically slidable relative thereto and having a top edge and a bottom edge,

said top edge of each gate having a projection thereacross normally resting upon its respective post shoulders when in a closed position and slidable upwardly through said space above the shoulders whereby the gate may be tilted downwardly and outwardly to engage its bottom edge with said post shoulders. to 'hold the gate in an open position,

a feed divider disposed centrally of the interior of the housing and extending full length therof along said base, 7

said divider comprising two walls converging upwardly to an apex centrally aligned with said filler opening,

whereby feed supplied to the interior of the housing through said filler opening and not clinging to said front and rear walls because of their downward divergence will be distributed gravitationally to both sides of the housing through said dispensing openings and into said feeding stalls.

2. A portable feeding station for cattle comprising,

a base having a front edge and a rear edge,

a vertically disposed retaining wall secured to said front and rear edges of the base throughout the length thereof,

a housing mounted upon the base and having front,

rear, and end walls,

said front and rear housing Walls made of panel sections uniformly spaced inwardly from said front and rear retaining Walls and converging upwardly relative to said base whereby to prevent feed, when being loaded into the housing, from clinging to said front and rear walls or stacking thereagainst,

stud partitions spaced apart throughout the length of said base and supporting said front and rear wall panel sections therebetween,

transversely disposed partition wall members interconnecting said stud partitions and said vertical retaining walls, whereby to divide the housing into feeding stalls throughout the length thereof,

said front and rear housing walls having dispensing openings therein intercommunicating the interior of said housing with said feeding stalls,

vertical post members adjacent the sides of said dispensing openings and extending upwardly from the top edge thereof in spaced relation to said front and rear walls,

each post having a shoulder on the same horizontal plane as the top edge of the dispensing openings,

a gate for each dispensing opening comprising a flat panel vertically slidable relative thereto and having atop edge and a bottom edge,

said top edge of each gate having a projection thereacross normally resting upon its respective post shoulders when in a closed position and slidable upwardly through said space above the shoulders whereby the gate may be tilted downwardly and outwardly to engage its bottom edge with said post shoulders to hold the gate in an open position,

a feed divider disposed centrally of the interior of the housing and extending full length thereof along said base,

said divider comprising two walls converging upwardly to an apex centrally aligned with said filler opening, whereby feed supplied to the interior of the housing through said filler opening and not clinging to said front and rear walls because of their downward divergence will be distributed gravitationally to both sides of the housing through said dispensing openings and into said feeding stalls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,457,432 Ballard Dec. 28, 1948 2,470,878 Tate May 24, 1949 2,902,003 Mund Sept. 1, 1959 2,919,675 Beachy Jan. 5, 1960 2,974,634 Williams et al Mar. 14, 1961 

1. A PORTABLE FEEDING STATION FOR CATTLE COMPRISING, A BASE HAVING A FRONT EDGE AND A REAR EDGE, A VERTICALLY DISPOSED RETAINING WALL SECURED TO SAID FRONT AND REAR EDGES OF THE BASE THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH THEREOF, A HOUSING MOUNTED UPON THE BASE AND HAVING FRONT, REAR, AND END WALLS, SAID FRONT AND REAR HOUSING WALLS SPACED INWARDLY FROM SAID FRONT AND REAR RETAINING WALLS AND CONVERGING UPWARDLY RELATIVE TO SAID BASE WHEREBY TO PREVENT FEED, WHEN BEING LOADED INTO THE HOUSING, FROM CLINGING TO SAID FRONT AND REAR WALLS OR STACKING THEREAGAINST, STUD PARTITIONS SPACED APART THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF SAID BASE AND SUPPORTING SAID FRONT AND REAR WALLS, TRANSVERSE DISPOSED PARTITION WALL MEMBERS INTERCONNECTING SAID STUD PARTITIONS AND SAID VERTICAL RETAINING WALLS, WHEREBY TO DIVIDE THE HOUSING INTO FEEDING STALLS THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH THEREOF, SAID FRONT AND REAR HOUSING WALLS HAVING DISPENSING OPENINGS THEREIN INTERCOMMUNICATING ITS INTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING WITH SAID FEEDING STALLS, VERTICAL POST MEMBERS ADJACENT THE SIDES OF SAID DISPENSING OPENINGS AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE TOP EDGE THEREOF IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID FRONT AND REAR WALLS, EACH POST HAVING A SHOULDER ON THE SAME HORIZONTAL PLANE AS THE TOP EDGE OF THE DISPENSING OPENINGS, A GATE FOR EACH DISPENSING OPENING VERTICALLY SLIDABLE RELATIVE THERETO AND HAVING A TOP EDGE AND A BOTTOM EDGE, SAID TOP EDGE OF EACH GATE HAVING A PROJECTION THEREACROSS NORMALLY RESTING UPON ITS RESPECTIVE POST SHOULDERS WHEN IN A CLOSED POSITION AND SLIDABLE UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID SPACE ABOVE THE SHOULDERS WHEREBY THE GATE MAY BE TILTED DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY TO ENGAGE ITS BOTTOM EDGE WITH SAID POST SHOULDERS TO HOLD THE GATE IN AN OPEN POSITION, A FEED DIVIDER DISPOSED CENTRALLY OF THE INTERIOR OF THE HOUSING AND EXTENDING FULL LENGTH THEREOF ALONG SAID BASE, SAID DIVIDER COMPRISING TWO WALLS CONVERGING UPWARDLY TO AN APEX CENTRALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID FILLER OPENING, WHEREBY FEED SUPPLIED TO THE INTERIOR OF THE HOUSING THROUGH SAID FILLER OPENING AND NOT CLINGING TO SID FRONT AND REAR WALLS BECAUSE OF THEIR DOWNWARD DIVERGENCE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED GRAVITIONALLY TO BOTH SIDES OF THE HOUSING THROUGH SAID DISPENSING OPENINGS AND INTO SAID FEEDING STALLS. 